Device for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reeling machine

ABSTRACT

A device for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reeling machine comprising, on a frame, three rollers ( 16, 17, 18 ) having mutually parallel axes that are perpendicular to the direction of feed of the paper ( 11 ), in which two winding rollers, a bottom one ( 17 ) and a top one ( 16 ), supported on the frame, co-operate with a third roller ( 18 ) that maintains a certain pressure on a roll of paper or log being formed, where the third roller ( 18 ) is carried by a pair of arms ( 22 ) which can oscillate with respect to the frame, the paper ( 11 ) that is being wound passing over one of the two rollers, and the finished roll or log ( 19 ) coming out of an outlet aperture or gap ( 30 ) identified between the bottom roller and the third roller, and the cores ( 12 ) for said rolls being fed, one after another, by a pusher conveyor ( 15 ) and being introduced into a channel ( 24 ) made underneath the top roller ( 16 ) by an oscillating pusher ( 27, 35 ) which co-operates for inserting the core ( 12 ), possibly provided with adhesive, there also being provided an arrest element ( 32, 132 ) for at least partial arrest of the paper ( 11 ) upstream of the point of insertion of the core ( 12 ).

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for re-reeling andforming a roll of paper in a re-reeling machine.

[0002] It is known that in machines or assemblies for winding paper fordomestic use, in particular paper subsequently to be used as toiletpaper, wipes, serviettes, handkerchiefs and the like, there are providedelements that guide the incoming paper and control proper windingthereof onto a core to produce a finished roll referred to as “log”.

[0003] Such machines, known as re-reeling machines, have two windingrollers and a third pressure roller. The two former rollers bring aboutwinding of the paper into a roll, which progressively grows in diameter,whilst the third roller, in addition to co-operating in this windingoperation, maintains a certain pressure on the roll or log to make surethat it is wound in a compacted way.

[0004] The two rollers have a position that is fixed with respect to theframe and support the log, drawing along the paper, whilst the thirdroller, acting as pressure roller, exerts pressure on the log beingformed and hence determines the diameter of the finished product.

[0005] The third roller, or “pressure roller”, is supported at oppositeends of at least one pair of arms that are pivoted to the frame. Thethird roller can thus oscillate according to a curved direction aboutthe pivoting axis of the arms. Alternatively, this roller may alsoundergo control of the pressure that acts on it by means of a sensor.

[0006] Over time there have been developed various assemblies anddevices for feeding the core of the roll, as well as for separating thefinished roll and simultaneously positioning the leading end of theincoming paper on the new core.

[0007] For the above purpose, the Italian patent No. 1 262 046illustrates the arrangement of a means for interrupting the ribbon-likematerial, which cooperates with means for feeding along a channel,between a position of insertion of a new core and a groove or outlet gapfor the core between the three rollers so as to enable the roll of paperto be wound.

[0008] The arrangement of the aforesaid interruption means in aninternal area of the channel involves a somewhat complicated process ofsynchronization between the parts and does not enable the re-reelingoperation to be accelerated.

[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is thus to provide adevice for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reelingmachine which will overcome all the problems and drawbacks referred toabove and which will guarantee proper operation at high speeds.

[0010] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a devicethat will be able to overcome the operating problems of synchronizationbetween the aforesaid interruption means and the acceleration of thepressure roller, without causing any release or slackening of the paper.

[0011] Yet a further purpose of the invention is that of providing adevice which, whilst solving the problems referred to above, isparticularly simple and effective and does not cause squeezing of theoutgoing finished roll or log.

[0012] These and other purposes according to the present invention areachieved by providing a device for re-reeling and forming a roll ofpaper in a re-reeling machine, as specified in claim 1.

[0013] Further more detailed characteristics are presented in thesubsequent claims.

[0014] The structural and functional characteristics and advantages of adevice for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reelingmachine will emerge more clearly from the ensuing description providedby way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached schematicdrawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a device forre-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reeling machine accordingto the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of what is illustrated inFIG. 1 in an immediately subsequent operating step of the device;

[0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a third step of release of the core and tearingof the paper for the formation of a new roll;

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a second example of embodiment of the presentinvention; and

[0019]FIG. 5 shows a third example of embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is shown a central part ofa machine for winding paper 11, in particular paper to be used as toiletpaper, wipes, serviettes, handkerchiefs and the like, in which there isset the device for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper according tothe present invention. The paper 11 that is fed in is made up of one ormore combined ribbons or layers, once the latter have been unrolled fromrespective rolls (not shown).

[0021] The paper 11 in the form of a ribbon or web comes off a largeroll (not shown) and must be wound onto a tubular core 12. The cores 12are fed in one after another by means of a pusher conveyor 13 providedwith pushers 15. The pusher conveyor 13 comprises, for example, chains14, which are parallel to one another (only one of these is shown in thefigure) and on which pushers 15 are arranged, which are set at adistance apart from one another and pick up the cores 12 from a magazine(not shown). The said pusher conveyor 13 carries the tubular cores 12towards an arrangement of three rollers 16, 17 and 18, which guide theincoming continuous web of paper 11 and control it so that it windsproperly onto each core 12 to form a finished roll of a given size,commonly referred to as “log”, and designated by 19.

[0022] The three rollers 16, 17, and 18 have mutually parallel axes,which are perpendicular to the direction of feed of the paper 11. Two ofthe aforesaid three rollers, namely the rollers 16 and 17, which aresupported by the frame, co-operate with the third roller 18.

[0023] The third roller 18 maintains a certain pressure on the roll orlog being formed, to ensure proper winding of the paper. The said roller18, known as “pressure roller”, is supported at opposite ends of atleast one pair of arms which are pivoted in 23 to the frame, one ofthese arms being schematically represented in 22 in the figure. Theroller 18 undergoes a control of the pressure that acts thereon by meansof a sensor or similar element (not shown).

[0024] The rollers 16 and 17 form between them an intake aperture or gap20 in the set of three rollers 16, 17, 18.

[0025] In addition, according to the invention, the cores 12 fed by thepushers 15 of the conveyor 13 are inserted into a channel 24 that isdefined by curved elements 25, set side by side (only one of these beingshown in the figure), designed to be inserted at least partially, bymeans of their ends, within channels or grooves 26 made in the outersurface of the bottom roller 17. The bottom roller 17 may in any casealso be smooth, and the said curved elements in this case rest on thesurface thereof.

[0026] The channel 24 terminates at an intake aperture or gap 20,identified between the top roller 16 and the bottom roller 17, where thechannel 24 is altogether similar in size to the outer diameter of thecore 12.

[0027] At the intake of the said channel 24 there may be provided adispenser element 29 for dispensing adhesive.

[0028] For reasons of completeness, it should be pointed out that anoutlet aperture or gap 30 for exit of the finished roll is identifiedbetween the bottom roller 17 and the third roller, or pressure roller,18.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, moreover provided in a positioncorresponding to the channel 24, namely at the intake in the example ofembodiment illustrated, is a pusher 27, oscillating or rotating about apin 28, which inserts the core 12, possibly provided with adhesive,within the channel 24. In fact, the pusher 27 is provided with a housing31 which receives a core 12 arriving on a pusher 15 of the conveyor 13.This operation is obtained by at least partial rotation of the pusher27, which, as it proceeds, draws along the core in the proximity of theintake of the channel 24, for example after the core has received theadhesive in 29 (FIG. 2).

[0030] The aforesaid movement then proceeds until (FIG. 3) the pusher 27releases the core 12 in the channel, which has a size very close to thatof the core. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, at the same time anend appendage 32 of the pusher 27, which is provided with frictionmaterial 33, interferes with the paper 11 which has come to rest atleast partially on the top roller 16 and is being carried by the latter.There is thus obtained an element for at least partial arrest of thepaper upstream of the channel 24, before the point of introduction ofthe core 12, the said element acting on any moving element thatco-operates in feeding the paper 11. The said moving element may be thetop winding roller 16, another roller, or some other moving element ofany sort.

[0031] The above makes it possible to facilitate and cooperate in theoperation of tearing of the paper in the channel 24 in close vicinity tothe intake aperture 20, the said operation being basically performed bythe acceleration of the pressure roller 18. In fact, the saidacceleration causes tearing of trailing end of the finished log 19 andbrings about winding of the leading end of the next web of paper 11directly onto the new core 12. In fact, as soon as the acceleration ofthe pressure roller 18 has brought about tearing the trailing end of afinished log 19, a new core 12 is inserted into the channel 24 by thepusher 27.

[0032] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first step in which the three rollers 16, 17and 18 support an almost finished log, whilst upstream of the intake ofthe channel 24 there is set a new core 12 that is ready to beintroduced. Introduction is possible thanks to the pusher 27, whichpicks up the core 12 from the conveyor and inserts it into the channel24.

[0033]FIG. 3 shows how the acceleration of the pressure roller 18 bringsabout tearing of the trailing end of the finished log 19 and how the newcore 12, which has entered the channel 24, supported by the curvedelements 25, can receive the leading end of the paper 11 that is beingfed continuously. This step also includes the co-operation of theappendage 32 of the pusher 27, which has the function of an arrestelement for at least partial arrest of the paper and which blocks thepaper on the top roller 16 which is rotating, or on a moving element.This takes place in an area upstream of the point of insertion of a coreinto the channel, without a complicated co-ordination between the parts,as instead occurs in known devices.

[0034] In FIG. 4, elements that are the same are designated by the samereference numbers. FIG. 4 shows that there is provided a pusher 35 theonly function of which is to insert the cores 12, after discharging themone after another from the conveyor 13, into the channel 24 in aposition corresponding to that of discharge of the finished log andstart of a new roll that is to be formed.

[0035] Upstream of the aforesaid pusher and alongside the top roller 16,i.e., upstream of the point of insertion of the core, there is provideda further roller 34 for deviating the paper 11 that is being fed to thedevice.

[0036] It is precisely on the paper 11 that is wound and advances onsaid deviator roller 34, that a separate arrest element for at leastpartial arrest of the paper acts, upstream of the point of introductionof the cores and upstream of the channel 24. The arrest element, in thiscase, consists of an arm 132 that rotates about a position-adjustablepin 128. Also the outermost end of the arm 132 can be provided withfriction material 133 for interfering with the paper 11 and achievingmore reliable engagement.

[0037] There is thus created a further arrest element that acts on amoving element (in this case, the roller 34, but possibly an element ofa different type, such as a translating surface).

[0038] The provision of the deviator roller 34, which is set alongsidethe top roller 16 or above it, moreover keeps the paper stretched,preventing return backwards of the paper 11, which is torn by thepressure roller 18, the said stretching being obtained by means ofconstant winding of the paper.

[0039]FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment, which is very similar to that ofFIG. 4 where the deviator roll 34 is eliminated. The arm 132, whichrotates around the pin 128, acts directly on the paper 11 contacting thetop roller 16. This contact is before or simultaneously the pusher 35introduces the core 12. In this way, there is a co-ordination betweenthe tear of paper and winding of the leading of the paper over the newcore 12.

[0040] The above arrangement makes it possible to eliminate the means ofinterruption of the ribbon-like material envisaged in the prior artalong the channel, namely between a point of insertion of a new core andan outlet point for the core so that the latter sets itself between thethree rollers for winding of the roll, thus eliminating problems ofco-ordination and considerably simplifying the device.

[0041] The particular structure of the device of the present invention,when incorporated into a machine designed for making rolls of paper, ashas been said previously, thus makes it possible to have maximumfunctionality with minimum presence of working parts.

[0042] A device according to the invention makes it possible toaccelerate considerably the operation of the entire machine, with aconsequent increase in the number of logs produced.

[0043] It is evident that the example of embodiment illustrated is onlyone of the possible embodiments. It may be understood that furtherexamples of embodiments may be devised, all falling within the sameinnovative idea of the present invention.

1. A device for re-reeling and forming a roll of paper in a re-reelingmachine comprising, on a frame, three rollers (16, 17, 18) havingmutually parallel axes that are perpendicular to the direction of feedof the paper (11), in which two winding rollers, a bottom one (17) and atop one (16), supported on the frame, co-operate with a third roller(18) that maintains a certain pressure on a roll of paper or log beingformed, where the third roller (18) is carried by a pair of arms (22)which can oscillate with respect to the frame, the paper (11) that isbeing wound passing over one of the two rollers, and the finished rollor log (19) coming out of an outlet aperture or gap (30) identifiedbetween the bottom roller and the third roller, the cores (12) for saidrolls being fed, one after another, by a pusher conveyor (15) and beingintroduced into a channel (24) made underneath the top roller (16) by anoscillating pusher (27, 35) which cooperates for inserting the core(12), possibly provided with adhesive, there also being provided anarrest element (32, 132) for at least partial arrest of the paper (11)upstream of the point of insertion of the core (12).
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said arrest element (32) forat least partial arrest of the paper (11) is set at one end of saidpusher (27) and acts on said top roller (16).
 3. The device according toclaim 1, characterized in that said arrest element (132) for at leastpartial arrest of the paper (11) is set at a deviator roller (34) whichis set upstream of said top roller (16) and acts on said deviator roller(34).
 4. The device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized inthat said arrest element (32, 132) for at least partial arrest of thepaper (11) is provided, at one free end, with friction material (33,133).
 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that saidarrest element (132) for at least partial arrest of the paper (11) actson a moving element.
 6. The device according to claim 1, characterizedin that said channel (24) is identified by curved elements (25) setunderneath said top roller (16).
 7. The device according to claim 2,characterized in that said curved elements (25) are set side by side andare designed to be inserted at least partially, by means of their ends,within grooves (26) made in said bottom roller (17).
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that, in an area corresponding toan intake in said channel (24), there is provided an adhesive-dispensingelement (29).
 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that saidarrest element (132) for at least partial arrest of the paper (11) isfaced to said top roller (16), on which said arrest element actsrotating around its pin (128), said arrest element being positionedupstream of said channel (24).